Milhara Kankanamge

Milhara Kankanamge is passionate about creating brave spaces of well-being where people can thrive, transform and flourish through connection to place, opportunities, and shared experiences. She believes deeply in the power of creativity and storytelling to empower people—particularly those from diverse backgrounds—to authentically share their stories in ways that help them believe in themselves and inspire others.

With extensive experience in strategy, policy and program development across government and infrastructure sectors, Milhara takes trauma-informed, person-centred approaches that create opportunities for reimagining, transformation and deep community healing.

Milhara is a writer, spoken word artist and committee member of FLOW: For the Love of Words, a creative platform for emerging artists at intersections to find and share their voices. She is involved in community organisations supporting people from refugee backgrounds and those experiencing homelessness. Fluent in English and Sinhalese, widely travelled, and as a queer woman of colour, she brings a multi-dimensional perspective to creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard, celebrated, and empowered. She believes spoken word and creative expression are fundamental tools for building bridges between communities and fostering brave spaces where everyone can flourish.